Human capital per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Human capital per capita was 34,698 real chained 2019 US$ in 2020. ▲ Rising
Human capital per capita in South Africa, 1995–2020
Source: World Bank. 2021. The Changing Wealth of Nations 2021: Managing Assets for the Future. Washington, DC: World Bank. doi:10.1596/978-1-4648-1590-4. Measured in real chained 2019 US$.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 34,698 real chained 2019 US$ for human capital per capita in 2020. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.9% on the previous year and up 27.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, human capital per capita in South Africa peaked at 34,698 real chained 2019 US$ in 2020 and was at its lowest, 21,952 real chained 2019 US$, in 1995.
South Africa ranks 67th of 151 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Human capital per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | real chained 2019 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 21,952 real chained 2019 US$ | — |
| 1996 | 22,271 real chained 2019 US$ | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 22,635 real chained 2019 US$ | +1.6% |
| 1998 | 23,053 real chained 2019 US$ | +1.8% |
| 1999 | 23,531 real chained 2019 US$ | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 24,041 real chained 2019 US$ | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 24,796 real chained 2019 US$ | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 25,587 real chained 2019 US$ | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 26,357 real chained 2019 US$ | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 27,134 real chained 2019 US$ | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 27,875 real chained 2019 US$ | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 28,602 real chained 2019 US$ | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 29,315 real chained 2019 US$ | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 29,980 real chained 2019 US$ | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 29,420 real chained 2019 US$ | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 27,168 real chained 2019 US$ | -7.7% |
| 2011 | 29,489 real chained 2019 US$ | +8.5% |
| 2012 | 29,727 real chained 2019 US$ | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 30,212 real chained 2019 US$ | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 30,404 real chained 2019 US$ | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 31,717 real chained 2019 US$ | +4.3% |
| 2016 | 31,869 real chained 2019 US$ | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 32,760 real chained 2019 US$ | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 33,404 real chained 2019 US$ | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 34,043 real chained 2019 US$ | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 34,698 real chained 2019 US$ | +1.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 34,698 real chained 2019 US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 25,986 real chained 2019 US$, 1.3× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 34,698 real chained 2019 US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7,214 real chained 2019 US$, 4.8× the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 22,688 real chained 2019 US$ | 21,952 real chained 2019 US$ | 23,531 real chained 2019 US$ | 5 |
| 2000s | 27,311 real chained 2019 US$ | 24,041 real chained 2019 US$ | 29,980 real chained 2019 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 31,079 real chained 2019 US$ | 27,168 real chained 2019 US$ | 34,043 real chained 2019 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 34,698 real chained 2019 US$ | 34,698 real chained 2019 US$ | 34,698 real chained 2019 US$ | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More reference data data for South Africa
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is human capital per capita in South Africa?
- Human capital per capita in South Africa was 34,698 real chained 2019 US$ in 2020, according to World Bank. 2021. The Changing Wealth of Nations 2021: Managing Assets for the Future. Washington, DC: World Bank. doi:10.1596/978-1-4648-1590-4.
- What is the highest human capital per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 34,698 real chained 2019 US$ in 2020.
- What is the lowest human capital per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 21,952 real chained 2019 US$ in 1995.
- How does South Africa rank for human capital per capita?
- South Africa ranks 67th out of 151 countries with data for 2020.
- Is human capital per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank. 2021. The Changing Wealth of Nations 2021: Managing Assets for the Future. Washington, DC: World Bank. doi:10.1596/978-1-4648-1590-4, published as part of Human capital per capita (real chained 2019 US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Human capital is computed as the present value of future earnings for the working population over their lifetimes. Values are measured at market exchange rates in constant 2018 US dollars, using a country-specific GDP deflator.